HikeArizona.COM

Well, I guess I'll have to change my screen name soon. My wife and I are going to be moving to Casa Grande before the end of the year. Listing the house for sale up in Page. No job yet, kinda scary, but my wife needs to go back to school full time. Even commuting to and from UofA, with the house prices in CG we'll save money over moving to El Pueblo. Big change - this will be my first time living off The Plateau since '99. Eeek!

Well, it's settled - I'm moving to the Verde Valley!
I accepted the Park Ranger position at Fort Verde State Park in Camp Verde!
I'm pretty psyched ... it's a job I have always wanted, and I will be close to Sedona, Cottonwood, Payson, Fossil Creek - and close enough to Flagstaff, the Canyon, and the Phoenix area.
And I get into all the State Parks for free.

Congratulations! It's an interesting area with plenty to explore. I hope I'll eventually catch up on it myself.

Happy for you! Good things happen to good people.

congrats, kelly
that is awesome!

That's great! I've often thought of wintering in the area. It has so much to offer an outdoors person. Whitewater and flatwater kayaking, backpacking, etc.

Congrats and if you like pizza try Crusty's Pizza in Camp Verde.

Thanks everybody!
I'll be starting at the Park in a couple weeks - stop by and say hi if you're in the area!

Pending a federal background check, I'll be taking a temporary job for the summer with NPS at Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, stationed in Page

@hippiepunkpirate
Way to go, good luck!

Will you be giving dam tours?

@Jim_H
No, I believe those are given by the Glen Canyon Natural History Association. My position is called "Visitor Services Assistant". I'll be a ranger at the marinas, educating boaters about the importance of keeping invasive mussels out of Lake Powell.

Oh, oh well. I guess you won't be able to answer any dam questions, then.

@hippiepunkpirate
Hope to see you up there. I hope to be doing some kayaking up there. I'll be working again for CDT, but I asked for part time, and will be working 3 days a week, I'm told.

Moving back to Williams Monday or Tuesday. I'm just waiting for a break in the wind since I don't like driving The Beast in windy conditions. (The Beast is my home, which is a 27-foot 1989 Class C motorhome.)

I'm really a bit heartbroken about leaving my unbelievably sweet and pretty Colorado riverbank RV spot here in Needles. I'll miss the new friends I've made in the 6 months I've been down here: kayakers, hikers and RVers. I made reservations to set up in the same spot in the fall, starting November 1. I'm not looking forward to the cold May weather on the Coconino Plateau, but I have to go back to work, and that's where my job is. And, it does get very hot here, very soon, and I have no A/C. Still, I'm feeling sad. The RV people here even threw me a going away party last night!

I have a super sweet deal on rent in Williams, $100 a month to park my rig. And I'll be working mostly part-time, per my request. So, I should have a lot of time for fun stuff "up on the mountain." I am going to dust off my backpacking gear, for one thing.

On your trip north may the wind be on your back... Good luck...

@SuperstitionGuy
Thank you!

I made it to Williams! Oddly happy to be here. I like a change of scene, especially when I can move my house without having to schlep furniture! All I do is secure a few things, unplug the electricity, pull out the wheel blocks and levelers, and I'm gone! I already have my hummingbird feeder set up!

azbackpackr wrote: Oddly happy to be here.

Great!

@big_load
Yeah, it's still a bit chilly up here, but not too bad. It was starting to get a wee bit warm down by the river. The kayaking up here is very limited but the hiking is GREAT!

Chilly is relative for me, even on a day-to-day basis. It was in the 50s when I got to UT, and it felt like summer. I welcomed the sleet and snow on the trail, because they tamed the blazing sun, which was roasting me at air temps below 70F. Even so, it was nice to feel the triple digits in Phoenix on the way home.